Tournament optimism high for track teams By Andrew Strnad Staff Reporter Gary Pepin Expectations are high once again for the Nebraska men's and women's track teams, which have won 26 of the last 30 indoor track conference championships. Although the two teams don't begin their indoor seasons until January, NU Coach Gary Pepin said preparations are already under way for the Huskers' second season in the Big 12. The Husker women are seeking their 19th consecutive indoor conference championship and fourth straight top ten finish at the NCAAs. This year's women's team is a young squad, and the loss of NCAA champions Angee Henry and Tressa Thompson leaves the Huskers with no recognizable superstar. Despite the lack of experience on the team, Pepin said he expects the women to field yet another strong team. "We might not be as talented, or have the depth of last year's team, but our goals for the year are always to win the conference and finish in the top 10 at the national meet," Pepin said. NU edged out Texas to claim the inaugural Big 12 Indoor crown a year ago, and Pepin said the Longhorns will once again be the biggest threat to the Huskers' winning ways. The Texas men and women did top the Huskers at the Big 12 Outdoor Meet and return a majority of their strong stable of sprinters to challenge the Huskers. "We have some young freshman sprinters that should help us, but there's a team down in Austin with an awfully good group of sprinters." Pepin said. The Husker men, like the women, will be defending their Big 12 Indoor Championship and will face tough competition from the Longhorns. Pepin said he believes the men's team has depth, quality and balance, which add up to the ingredients of a championship-caliber team. Junior high jumper Shane Lavy returns as one of the most heralded high jumpers in the nation and can become the first three-time all-American high jumper in NU history. "Shane is certainly one of the top jumpers in the country, but he's got to work hard if wants to finish in the top five at the national meet," Pepin said. Junior Scott Warren also figures to make an impression in the Big 12. Warren won the Big 12 title in the 35 pound weight throw and capped off an All-American season by placing fifth at Nationals. "I really believe if I stay healthy, I can win the conference title, and finish near the top at nationals," Warren said. With the season starting at the beginning of the spring semester, Nebraska is aggressively recruiting athletes who graduate at the end of the fall semester. Pepin said because of the last minute recruiting it is difficult to provide an outlook for this year's squad. "Right now we're competing against other schools for athletes at junior colleges, who will graduate in December. So it's a little premature to assess the team as a whole right now," Pepin said.